American Girls Abroad.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 226, 29 October 1887, Page 3

American Girls Abroad.

There is nothing but friendly criticism in the remarks of a recent article in the London -'Queen" on American women and their dress. Evidently a gentlewoman was the writer— a lady who^e exquisite taste led to her criticism. Sho begins by saying that one is accustomed to associate only the goahead, slap-dashing manner of doing things with Americans ; but, though that is doubtless the most eminent characteristic of the male portion of the population it is certainly not of the woman in respect to all kinds of household and needle-work. The neatness and careful finish of an American lady's work is, it is not too much to say, unsurpassed ; the scientific deltness of ma nipulation, together with the patient care expended on it, is worthy of all admiration. The most striking impression received is that there is a strongly marked tendency toward richness of stuft and ornament. Girls in their teens wear silk, velvet and point lace, together with jewellery of all kinds, including diamonds, which many a British matron, would hesitate to put on. Possessors of young, fiesh faces can afford to array themselves thus, and they certainly revel in assuming an almost regal gorgeousness. Diamondsat 9 o'clock in the morning, even when in the simple forms of pins, eariings and ring>, as part of a young girl's toilet, are a little oppressive. One point must, however, be taken into account ; individual pieces of jewellei-y are in better taste than the Englishwoman's brooches and lockets of ordinary wear, and, being adjusted to tho person of the wearer with an acute perception of becomingness, do not prove as aggressive as a description of the facts of the case would lead one to suppose.